Hedge-trimmer



9 9 l 3 2 y d e t n e t a P on E N P E K P E am 8 5 2 6 0 N HEDGE TRIMMER.

(Appli zation filed may 14, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I. 4

(No Model.)

witwemao Tm: scams PETERS co. PKOTO-LITNQ. WASHINGTON, u. c.

Patented May 23, I899.

E. P. KEPNER.

HEDGE TRIMMER.

(Application filed May 14, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

.No ModeL) INVENTOR m: mum's PET ns c0, PNDTO-LITHQ, wnsuwmou 'n. c.

No. 625,688. Patented m 23-, I899.

E. P. KEPNER.

HEDGE TRIMMER.

(Application filed may 14, 1898.

kNo Modal.) 3 Sheets-SheeLB.

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Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERASTUS P. KEPNER, OF NORA, ILLINOIS.

HEDGE-TRIMMER}.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,688, dated May 23, 1899.-

Application filed May 14, 1898. Serial No- 680,705. (No model.)

T0 on whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERASTUS P. KEPNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nora, in the county of J o Daviess and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hedge-Trimmers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for trim ming hedges; andit consists in providing approximately vertical cutters and a horizontal cutter and means for rotating the said cutters, the construction being such that both sides of a hedge and the top thereof may be trimmed at one operation.

My invention further consists in providing a machine with a fixed cutter for cutting one side of a hedge, a movable cutter for cutting the other side of a hedge, and'an adjustable cutter for cutting the top portion of the hedge; the construction being such that hedges of different sizes and shapes may be operated upon, as may be desired.

My invention further consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a rear end elevation of my im- Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 represents a top plan View of the said machine; Fig. 4 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the machine, showing the pivoted frame mounted thereon. Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of the machine, showing the journals connected with the sprocket-chain; and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the upper wedge used on the fixed cutter.

In constructing a machine suitable for trimming hedges I find that it is desirable to use cutters which revolve or rotate instead of reciprocating cutters, as have been commonly employed in these machines. It is also desirable to mount such cutters upon the machine so that the process of cutting or trimming a hedge may be begun at any point within the length of the hedge, thus preventing the necessity of beginning at one or the other ends of the said hedge.

By my invention I am enabled to mount rotary cutters in such a manner that the trimsupporting power-Wheel, as 2, and carrying a seat foran operator, as 3. A tongue, as 4, is secured to the front of the frame 1 and braced with respect to the same in any suitable manner. The weight of the frame and the cutting mechanism which it supports is preferably so arranged with respect to the main wheel 2 that it will be nearly balanced, a slight preponderance of weight being kept on the side occupied by the operator. The other side of the frame is preferably supported by an adjustable wheel, as at 5, which will be herein after more fully described. The frame 1 extends upwardly upon either side of the main supporting-wheel 2,and carries a power-shaft, as 6, said shaft finding bearings upon the upper part of the frame. Upon this shaft is se-' cured a sprocket-wheel, as 7, which is connected, by means of a sprocket-chain 8, with a sprocket-wheel 9, secured either to the wheel2 or to its shaft, so that it will turn with the said wheel. It will thus be apparent that when the machine is moved forwardly the revolution of the wheel 2 will transmit motion through the sprocket-gearing to the shaft 6. Upon the outer end of the shaft 6 is mounted a bevel-gear, as 10, which meshes with a corresponding bevel-gear 11, mounted upon and secured firmly to a shaft 12, the said shaft carrying cutters, as will be further described. This shaft is preferably supported at points upon the side of the frame by means of brackets, as 13 13. WVhile the shaft 12 may bearranged vertical, yet as hedges are nearly always trimmed with a slight incline upon their side faces I preferably arrange the shaft 12 at a slight inclination from a perpendicular.

In order to prevent the cutters from being hindered in their revolution by the supporting-brackets 13 and the power-shaft 6, they are made in sections, as clearly seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the said sections extending very close to the said supporting-brackets and the said shaft, but being entirely free to revolve without striking the same. These cutters consist of blades, as 14 M, carried by suitable heads or spiders, as 15,sec'ured at proper intervals upon the cutter-shaft 12, so

as to move therewith. By this construction when the machine is moved forward and the power-shaft 6 is caused to rotate the motion will be communicated to the cutter-shaft 12 and the blades 14 will revolve as desired. In order to prevent the possibility of any of the twigs or branches of the hedge being left uncut at the point where the blades 14 are separate from each other, I preferably mount wedge-shaped parting-pieces, as 16 16, secured to the brackets 13 13. I also mount a similar parting-wedge, as 17, upon the shaft 12 by means of a collar, as 18, said collar loosely engaging the said shaft and resting upon the gear 11. Alittle projecting finger or pin upon the rear of the collar 18, as at 19, engages a recess in the end of the shaft 6, so as to prevent the wedge 17 from being turned out of position on the shaft 12. It will be readily seen that these parting-wedges 16 and 17will divide the branches at that point and throw them either up or down, so as to be brought into engagement with the cutters above and below said wedges, thus insuring the complete cutting of that side of the hedge. In order to cut the top of the hedge, acounter-shaft, as 20, is mounted upon a swinging frame, as 21, which is pivoted, as at 22, to the top of the frame 1. It will be evident that by swinging the frame upon its pivotal pointthe shaft 20 and the cutter which it carries will be raised or lowered, so as to cut the top of the hedge at a higher or lower point. The outer end of the shaft 20 carries a revolving cutter, as 23,which is preferably constructed similar to the cutters 14, the blades 24 being carried by suitable spiders, as 25, fixed to the shaft,

20. In order to communicate a revolving movement to the shaft 20 and the cutter 23, I preferably secure to the shaft 20 a pinion, as 26, which meshes with a gear-Wheel 27, keyed or otherwise firmly secu red to the shaft 6. The-frame 21 is pivoted upon a line coincident with the axis of the shaft 6, so that the rotary movement of the said frame will always hold the sh aft 20 the same distance from the shaft 6 and the pinion 26 in engagement with the gear-wheel 27, so that no matter at what height the cutter is adjusted it will receive movement from the power-shaft.

In order to control the movement of the frame 21, a lever, as 28, is pivotally mounted upon the frame 1 within easy reach of the drivers seat, and is connected by means of a link 29 with the frame 21, so that by operating the lever 28 the driver can control the height of the horizontal cutter 23.

The third cutter, which is to operate on the far side of the hedge, should be so mounted that it may be lifted into a horizontal position when it is desired to bring the machine into proper position with relation to the head or when it is desired to remove the machine from the head. I have found that a cutter,

can be mounted in this manner so as to operate advantageously and in such a manner that the angle of the said third cutter can be regulated by the driver of the machine. In carrying out this feature of my invention a second counter-shaft, as 30, is mounted upon a frame or frame extension,'as 31, which is secured to the top of the main frame 1. This frame is formed with an outwardly-extending bracket or truss, as 32, which is adapted to support the outer end of the shaft 30 and the cutter 33, which is to operate upon the far side of the hedge. A sprocket-wheel, as 34, is secured to the shaft 30 and connected by a sprocket-chain 35 with a sprocket-wheel 36, keyed to the shaft 6. g It will thus be seen that motion can be imparted directly from the power-shaft to the shaft 30 by means of the sprocket-chain 35. To the outer end of the shaft 30 is secured a hemispherical gear, as 37, which meshes with a corresponding hemispherical gear, as 38, which is secured or keyed to the shaft or cutter 33. The teeth of the gears 37 and 38 being constructed to mesh with each other of course converge at corresponding angles throughout and permit of the cutter 33 being raised or lowered from a vertical to a horizontal position, and vice versa, as may be desired, without throwing the said gears out of engagement with each other or causing them to bind with respect to each other. ter to be raised in this manner and to hold the gears 38 and 37 in proper relation to-each other at every point, I mount a segmental rack, as 39, upon the truss 32, the center of the said rack being arranged directly opposite the center of the gear 37. The teeth of the rack 39 are adapted to mesh with the teeth of the corresponding segmental rack 40, which is arranged so that its center is exactly opposite the center of the gear 38. In order to prevent these gears from separating and falling apart, 1 preferably employ a link, as 41, which is pivoted to the centers of the said segmental racks 39 and 40. To the rack 40 is secured a hearing, as 42, which engages and supports the shaft 43 of the cutter The said cutter 33 is provided with long blades, as 44, which are mounted upon spiders, as 45, similar to those already described upon the other cutters. In order to raise and lower the cutters 33, a lever or arm, as 46, is secured to the rack 40, and to the upper end of the arm 46 is pivotally secured a link, as 47, which connects the said arm with an operating-lever 48, pivoted upon the frame 31 near the seat of the driver. It will be readily seen that by this construction the driver can control the angle of the cutter 33 at all times, and when he desires to move the machine to the side of a hedge to cut or trim the same it is only necessary for him to operate the lever 48 so as to pull the cutter into a horizontal position, when it can be moved against the hedge and the cutter 33 can be lowered upon the opposite or far side of the hedge. When it is necessary to remove the machine from the hedge again, the driver merely raises the cutter 33 by the same means and In order to permit the said cut- IIO into convenient proximity to the seat 3.

the machine is free to pass away from the hedge at any point. So, also, the cutter may be held not only in a vertical position butin a slight angle, if it is desired to cut the face of the hedge in that manner.

It is desirable in a machine of this character, as in the case of other kinds of cuttingmachines, that the cutters should not be revolved when the machine is passed to and from its place of work, and for this purpose I mount the sprocket-wheel 7 loosely upon the shaft 6 and provide a clutch, as 49, which is splined to the said shaft, so as to revolve with the same, but be capable of a longitudinal movement thereon. A lever, as 50, is pivoted to the frame 1 and engages a groove in the said clutch, so that by operating the lever the clutch can be brought into and out of engagement with the sprocket-wheel '7. When the clutch is brought into engagement with the sprocket-wheel 7, the motion of the sprocketwheel will be communicated through the clutch to the shaft 6, and when the clutch is moved away from the said sprocket-wheel 7 it will run freely upon the shaft 6 without iinparting any movement thereto. As all the cutters receive their motion from the shaft 6, it will be apparent that they can be started or stopped by means of the lever 50 at any desired moment.

In cutting hedges the machine will be compelled to pass over ground which will probably be more or less uneven, and it is very desirable to preserve the generally vertical position of the vertical cutters, so as to trim the hedge evenly. In order to keep the base of the frame 1 as nearly as possible in a horizontal position, the outer supporting-wheel 5 is adjustably mounted in the frame 1, as heretofore mentioned. In order to have the height of the frame with respect to this wheel at all times within the control of the operator of the 1nachine,the shaft 51 ofthe wheel 5 is mounted in bearings 51,which are secured to sprocketchains, as 52 52, the said chains 52 52 being run over sprocket-wheels 54 at the lower part of the frame and also over the sprocketwheels 55, inountedin thetop partof the frame. The upper sprocket-wheels 55 are secured to a shaft, as 56, which is provided with an operating crank'or handle, as 57, which extends y rotating the shaft 56 the chains 52 will move the bearings of the shaft 51 with respect to the frame 1, so that the base of the frame 1 may be always kept in a horizontal position. In order that it may not be necessary to keep the hand upon the lever 57 at all times, I preferably mount a ratchet-wheel upon the inner end of the shaft 56, as at 58. A pawl, as 59, secured to the frame 1, engages the ratchet 58 and is preferably held in engagement with the same by means of aspring, as 60. Ashaft, as 61, is secured to the pawl 59 at its pivotal point and is provided with an arm, as 62, which is connected by means of a link, as 63,

with a foot-lever, as 64;, arranged within convenient reach of the driver. When it is desirable to change the wheel 5, so as to keep the base of the machine horizontal, it will only be necessary to press the foot upon a lever 64, so as to release the pawl 59,when the arm or crank 57 may be operated to adjust the said wheel 5.

It will be apparent by looking at themovement imparted to the cutters by the gearing above described that all the cutters will rotate so as to cut forward and outwardly, the cutting blades thus meeting the twigs or branches of a hedge. This is quite an important feature of my invention, as it enables me to make a much cleaner out than if the cutters revolved in the opposite direction.

I find in operating machines of this character that it is desirable to have a gage of some sort by which the machine may be run parallel with the hedge. I have conceived of asimple manner of accomplishing this end, which, as seen in the drawings, consists of a bar or arm, as 65, pivoted to the forward end of the tongue, as at 66. The outer end of the arm 65 carries a small wheel or roller, as 67, which may run at the base or root of the hedge. By guiding the horses so that this roller always engages the base of the hedge the machine will be kept in proper relation with the same for trimming both sides thereof.

It will be apparent from the above description that I am enabled to accomplish the threefold purpose of cutting the near and far sides and the top of the hedge at one operation by means of a simple mechanism which is not likely to get out of order and which is at all times within control of the driver or operator.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a hedge-trimming machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a top horizontal revoluble cutter, and side approximately vertical revoluble cutters, for cutting the top and both sides of a hedge simultaneously, and means for raising and lowering the top cutter and means for changing the angle of a side cutter at will to vary the height and shape of the hedge, substantially as described.

2. In a hedge-trimming machine, the 00mbination with a suitable frame, of cutters for trimming simultaneously both sides and top of hedges, means for operating said cutters, and means for adjusting them for hedges of different heights and means to cut the sides at different angles, substantially as described.

3. In a hedge-trimming machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of cutters for simultaneously trimming both sides and the top of hedges, means for raising the far outter so that the operator may begin or cease to operate upon a hedge at any desired point in its length, substantially as described.

4. In a hedge-trimming machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a fixed cutter mounted thereon, a horizontal cutter ad justably mounted thereon, and a swinging cutter for engaging the opposite side of the hedge, the construction being such that the hedge may be simultaneously trimmed to a desired height and width, substantially as described.

5. In a hedge-trimming machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a powershaft mounted thereon, a fixed cutter also mounted upon thesaid frame, gearing interposed between the said cutter and the powershaft whereby the same is caused to revolve upon the moving of the machine, a horizontal and a swingingcutter also mounted upon the said frame, and means for communicating motion from the vpower-shaft to the cutters, substantially as described.

6. In a hedge-trimmer, the combination with a suitable frame, of a power-shaft supported thereon, an actuating gear-wheel secured thereto, apivoted frame, centered upon said shaft and carrying a counter-shaft, a gear-wheel mounted upon said counter-shaft and meshing directly with the teeth of the gear on the power-shaft, a horizontal revoluble cutter mounted on said counter-shaft, and means for swinging the said pivoted frame to a vertical position or to positions upon either side of the vertical plane, for raising and lowering the cutter, the construction being such that the gear on the counter-shaft will move around, the periphery of the actuating-gear in adjusting the cutter, always remaining in mesh therewith, substantially as described.

7. In a hedge-trimmer, the combination with a suitable frame, of a fixed vertical and a horizontal cutter mounted thereon, a swinging cutter for cutting the far side of a hedge, a horizontal shaft for communicating motion to the said swinging cutter, and hemispherical gearing interposed between said shaft and the shaft of the cutter whereby the said outter may be caused to revolve in any of its adjusted positions,substantiaily as described.

8. In ahedge-trimming machine, the combination with a suitable frame, of a vertical fixed revoluble cutter adapted to cut the near side of a hedge, cutters for cutting the top and other side of the hedge, means for adj usting said latter cutters to trim the hedge to different heights and 'in different shapes, substantially as described.

9. In a hedge-trimmer, the combination with a suitable frame, of a truss mounted thereon, a counter-shaft carried by the said truss, a swinging cutter for cutting the far side of a hedge, and means for movably holding the said cutter upon the said truss,

truss, a segmental rack mounted upon the said truss, a segmental rack mounted upon the shaft of a swinging cutter, a link for connecting the centers of the said racks so as to hold them into engagement with each other, and means for moving the said cutter so as to raise or lower it and hemispherical gearing interposed between the cutter and the counter-shaft, substantially as described.

11. In a hedge-trimmer, the combination with a suitable frame, ofa power-shaft mounted thereon, a counter-shaft connected therewith, a swinging cutter suitably supported from the frame, hemispherical gearing inter-' posed between the said cutter and the said counter-shaft, a lever for raising or lowering the said cutter, and a link for connecting the said lever with an operating-handle, substantially as described.

12. In a hedge-trimmer, the combination with a suitable frame,of a fixed cutter com prising a series of blades mounted upon a suitable shaft, brackets for supporting said shaft and parting wedges located opposite the spaces between the ends of the said blades and wider than the said spaces and overlapping the adjacent sides of the cutters for causing the twigs and branches of a hedge to be engaged by the cutters substantially as described.

13. In a hedge-trimmer, the combination with a frame, of a main wheel for supporting the same, an adjustable wheel for keeping the frame horizontal, the axle of said wheel extending upon each side thereof, journalboXes engaging journals on each side of said wheel,sprocket-chains secured to each of said journal-boxes, and means for operating the said sprocket-chains, whereby the machine maybe kept level, substantially as described.

14. In a hedge-trimmer, the combination with a suitable frame, of a main supportingwheel and an auxiliary supporting-wheel, means for adjusting the said wheel to different heights comprising sprocket-chains secured to each end of its axle, a ratchet-wheel connected with said chains, a pawl for engaging said ratchet and afoot-lever connected with said pawl, whereby the chains can be adjusted and held so as to keep the machine level, substantially as described.

15. In a hedge-trimmer, the combination with a suitable frame, of a gage comprising an arm pivoted to the forward end of the tongue, a short shaft mounted at right angles to said arm, a wheel journaled on said shaft, at the outer end of the said arm and adapted to run at the roots of a hedge in a plane parallel with the plane of the said arm, for guiding the machine with respect thereto, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERASTUS P. KEPNER.

Witnesses:

R. M. HOCKEY, D. MANLEY, Jr.

TIO 

